Miguel Najdorf Memorial

Jul 23, 2011

Polish Grandmasters Tomasz Markowski and Dariusz Swiercz share the first place

The International Chess Festival dedicated to the memory of Miguel Najdorf was held from 14th to 22nd July in Warsaw, Poland. 98 players competed in the Tournament A, which is valid for FIDE title norms, 134 in the Tournament B, and 50 in Tournament C for players born on 2001 or younger.

After nine rounds of play, Polish Grandmasters Tomasz Markowski and Dariusz Swiercz shared the first place with 7 points each. Markowski takes the winner’s trophy on superior tiebreak.

Miguel (Mieczysław) Najdorf was born in Warsaw on April, 15, 1910. He revealed his great chess talent as early as at the age of 10, when he achieved his maiden tournament successes. His first notable results at the Polish and international chess arena date back to the 30s. He was second (1931) and first (1934) in Warsaw Championships and then secong (1935) and third (1937) in Polish national Championships.

As one of Poland’s leading players, he represented his native country at Chess Olympiads three times, gaining team medals on all three occasions (bronze in 1935 and 1937, silver in 1939) and an individual gold medal in 1939. Additionally, he won an individual gold and team silver medal at the so-called unofficial Chess Olympiad in 1936.

The outbreak of World War II caught Najdorf in Buenos Aires, at the Chess Olympiad, most successful for him. Unable to return home, he decided to stay in Argentine and continue his chess career there. He won four more team medals (silver in 1950, 1952, 1954, bronze in 1962) and three individual medals (gold in 1950 and 1952, silver in 1962) at Chess Olympiads. He won Agrentinian Championships 8 times (1949, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1960, 1964, 1967, 1975).

In the 40s and 50ts Najdorf belonged to the close group of world’s best players, qualifying for the Candidates’ tournament of the World Championship on two occasions.

In 1950 he was one of the 27 top players awarded the newly introduced Grandmaster title by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).